There can’t be many airport hotels with a large and attractive outside area for al fresco barbecues and other eating in the warm months but the four-star Hilton London Heathrow Airport, which we experienced recently and which won the World’s Leading Airport Hotel award last year is one of a very few. Also much-appreciated by arriving guests, especially those arriving in inclement weather is the covered walkway connecting the Hilton to Terminal Four, an eight minute walk away and a fifteen minute ride on the Heathrow Express to Central London.
These help make it a popular choice with many organisers of corporate events, particularly those booking for the demanding pharmaceutical market. Other aspects that tick boxes for the Hilton are the conference and meetings facilities, starting with the Heathrow Suite which holds 300 theatre-style, has its own dedicated foyer area for break-outs and is divisible into two, and the Concorde Suite which holds 240, also has its own foyer area and is divisible into three. For smaller events there is the Aviator Suite for 60, that splits into two sections for 30 and 20, the Sapphire and Starlight rooms which hold 10 each on a boardroom or banqueting layout. After these there are ten meeting rooms, with seven holding 10 theatre-style or boardroom, one holding 32 and divisible into two for 10 each and two holding 36 each theatre-style, or 18 each boardroom.
Bedrooms, 398 in all, break down into four categories. The Guest rooms are all 24 square metres and have air-conditioning, soundproofed windows, comfortable beds, tea/coffee facilities, a large desk with wireless internet access, an easy chair and bathroom with bathtub and shower, both personally welcome for us after a late night arrival at the airport and a lazy lie-in and soak the next day De Luxe rooms in addition have king-size beds, 42″ LCD HDTV, bathrobe, slippers and bottled spring water. Those in Executive rooms also get exclusive use of the Executive Lounge, with free breakfast and refreshments served throughout the day. And those in the 48 square metre Suites get all this plus separate living and sleeping areas, magazines and a large 47″ LCD HDTV.
In the hotel is a Health club with gym, an indoor heated swimming pool with sauna and steam room and a Business Centre There is also Oscars bar, where we enjoyed a cold and refreshing late-night lager and three restaurants These are the Italian Aromi, where guests enjoy their substantial Hilton buffet breakfast, with an omelette station, a pancake machine, and a four-foot long peppermill, and, at other times authentic Italian dishes. Staff here were friendly and helpful and cheerfully demonstrated that the huge peppermill did actually dispense pepper and wasn’t just for decoration. Dancers Bar offers a wide range of speciality beers, cocktails and snacks, and Zen Oriental, open evenings only, offers Chinese and other Oriental cuisine.
Tel: +44(0)20 8759 7755 Email: [email protected] Web: www.heathrow.hilton.com
Note. The writer stayed, as a guest of Hilton, in a Guest room with breakfast.